Wilbur and Orville’s first formal collaboration was a small printing business they began in the mid-1880s. They did job-printing and published several short-lived local newspapers. The close and productive team that created the first airplane formed during this period.

Sines & Wright produced one never distributed issue of a small school newspaper called The Midget.

The First Collaboration

Milton Wright had an office in the United Brethren Printing Establishment, and his boys Wilbur and Orville enjoyed frequent access to the pressrooms. Fascinated with the operation, Orville took up printing as a serious hobby shortly after the family returned to Dayton in 1884. In 1888, with Wilbur’s assistance, Orville designed and built a larger, more professional press so he could accept bigger jobs. It marked the first time their historic moniker, “the Wright brothers,” appeared in print. Over the years, they worked on several publications and short-lived local newspapers, including:

• The Midget (a small school newspaper)
• Church pamphlets
• West Side News (later The Evening Item)
• Bicycle parts catalogs
• The Dayton Tattler

The Wrights maintained their printing business until 1899. They sold it after Ed Sines, who had been doing most of the day-to-day work, left the business.

Ed Sines in the printing office in 1897.

Wright & Wright Closes its Doors

The Wrights maintained their printing business until 1899. They sold it after Ed Sines, who had been doing most of the day-to-day work, left the business. Sines is shown here in the printing office in 1897.

Orville launched another newspaper in 1889, a local weekly called the West Side News. After a few issues, Wilbur’s name appeared on the masthead as Editor, with Orville listed as Publisher. The Wright brothers’ close working relationship was now established.

West Side News

Orville launched another newspaper in 1889, a local weekly called the West Side News. After a few issues, Wilbur’s name appeared on the masthead as Editor, with Orville listed as Publisher. The Wright brothers’ close working relationship was now established.